PostScript: Riding towards danger

Jesus faces up to the challenge ahead of him in Jerusalem (Matthew 21.10).

Introduction

The contrast between the beginning and end of Holy Week couldn’t be greater: while the crowds welcomed him, he knew that there were enemies lying in wait. While there were supporters with him on (Palm) Sunday, late on Thursday night he would face the challenge alone.

Context

A new one pound coin came into circulation on 28th March, the day before the Prime Minister ‘triggered’ Article 50 by sending a letter to Donald Tusk which gave two year’s notice of the UK’s intention to leave the EU.

US President Donald Trump has said that he is ready to tackle the ‘problem’ of North Korea with or without China’s help.

Lenin Moreno of the Socialist Party has won a close election in Ecuador, although the result may yet be challenged. Mr Moreno’s victory is probably good news for Julian Assange as the WikiLeaks founder, in asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, would have been asked to leave by Guillermo Lasso, the leader of the main opposition alliance.

The last person arrested following the murder of four people by Khalid Masood in Westminster last month, was released on 1st April. The inference from this is that Masood attacked alone.

Reflection

There is a link that can be made between these stories, and it is that in each case there is something about ‘going it alone’ and either running towards or away from danger. The United Kingdom will at some stage in the future be granted a ‘decree absolute’ in its divorce from the European Union. The new one pound coin can be regarded as a symbol of UK independence in that the UK did not adopt the Euro. Alternatively, it could be seen as a symptom of our kow-towing to Europe in that is part of a decimal currency system. There might have been some who would have preferred to see instead of a new pound coin, the reintroduction of the groat along with a return to imperial measures. Like it or not, Britain is going it alone … or is it? Will we still be friends after the divorce and will those who are friends with both parties take sides? Will the Commonwealth be strengthened? Time will tell whether the UK is ‘going it alone’ or ‘running toward danger’.

President Trump’s policies and style have come in for considerable criticism on both sides of the Atlantic, but it would be a major coup if he managed to build a relationship with North Korea and its president, Kim Jong Un. While the American president is willing to use force to bring President Kim in line, he has also suggested that he would be willing to meet the North Korean leader. This would be a big change in US foreign policy and would be a further example of President Trump’s willingness to ‘go it alone’ and possibly to ‘run toward danger’.

Some people who were definitely ‘running towards danger’ were the police, members of the public, members of parliament and paramedics who rushed to help those injured in the incident in Westminster last month in which five people died. There was a great response to what happened on social media where the efficacy of prayer was a topic of debate, with the majority view seeming to be that it does no harm.

Julian Assange, who sought asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy to avoid extradition to face criminal charges, has ‘run away from danger’. It may be unfair to criticise him for this in that there are a number of examples of otherwise heroic Biblical characters e.g. Gideon, Elijah, David and Peter, who have also run away from, or at least hidden from danger.

Our Gospel passage narrates the event at the beginning of Holy Week. We read of Jesus entering the city of Jerusalem where he would be taken captive, tried and executed. He rode towards danger and ultimately, he faced his fate alone.

Prayer

Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.

Our God when we think about people who run towards danger, we wonder how they do it. Do they calculate the odds, do they consider the risk, or do they do it, because ‘they can do no other’?

We pray for those who risk their lives through the course of their daily work: for members of the armed forces, for rescue services in mountains or on the seas, for paramedics working in dangerous environments.

We pray for people who are thrust into danger and fear for their lives. Doing the right thing isn’t easy and we pray that good decisions might be made.

We pray for those who must make brave decisions: in government, in healthcare and in the armed forces.

We pray for those recovering in hospital following the attack in Westminster. We pray for those who mourn and for those who have questions about why it happened.

We pray for ourselves, that we too might know the courage that comes from trusting you.
In Jesus’ name.
Amen.

Questions

Think of an occasion when you ‘ran towards danger’ or when you ran away from it. How did it turn out and do you now regret your decision?
Is it the duty of Christian people to risk their lives? Can a coward be a Christian and vice versa?

Action

It is probably not a good idea to suggest that you do something that is dangerous, when most media tells you, ‘Don’t try this at home’. However, you might like to think of an action – either individual or corporate – that would make you feel uncomfortable to do. As an individual, it may be to engage in conversation with someone about your faith. As a group, it could be sharing an act of worship in a public place.

Young People

Think of a person who has been particularly brave. It may be someone famous or someone only you know. What was it about what they said or did that made them brave?

Simon Carver is a Baptist Minister in St Albans and takes a particular interest in film and sport.

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